Regarding the Pain of Others | Susan Sontag
“Someone who is perennially surprised that depravity exists, who continues to feel disillusioned (even incredulous) when confronted with evidence of what humans are capable of inflicting in the way of gruesome, hands-on cruelties upon other humans, has not reached moral or psychological adulthood.”
Art used to hold people accountable. That is what I came away with after reading this book. The power of photography, the craft that in its raw form captures grotesque reality of human suffering and carnage is also an art form that can be edited and crafted to tell a specific, problematically inaccurate, narration. And within that is the viewer’s place. What kind of stance do people take in response to the horrific images? Sontag’s historical gathering and critical offerings exposed the lack of stance I take, the gradation of voyeurism and ignorance I respond with from the comfort of my apartment.
I have more often than not reacted in shock of depravity, and more importantly stayed there, and mistaken it as an expression of empathy. I am realizing, and Sontag’s words support it, that the shock comforts my own character than relieves anything from the people in the horror. How much does my shock affirm those people’s suffering?
“let the atrocious haunt us. Even if they are only tokens, and cannot possibly encompass most of the reality to which they refer, they still perform a vital function. The images say: This is what human beings are capable of doing—may volunteer to do, enthusiastically, self-righteously. Don’t forget.”
Even if the actions are small, an act does hold the unintentional accomplice in check. It reminds me “don’t forget” and also, “don’t linger listless”.
[Book of Delights pg. 32 | No. 10 Writing By Hand]